Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega

MANAGUA, March 26. /TASS/. Nicaragua and Russia have similar positions on international issues, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said on Wednesday after talks with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"I would like to say that in international affairs we adhere to principles of peace settlement of all disputes and conflicts," he said. "Vladimir Putin shares these positions."

"We are very glad when agreements are reached to ease hotbeds of tension, which are often, as we know, created deliberately," the Nicaraguan president noted.

He underscored that the Western policy of sanctions "leads nowhere." That is why, in his words, US President Barack Obama said that economic blockade of Cuba had failed.

"Some developed countries never learn the lessons of history," he noted. "They keep on exerting economic pressure, which is doomed to failure."

Nicaragua, Russia to develop relations in various spheres

Managua is thankful to Russian President Vladimir Putin for his constructive approach to the development of relations with Nicaragua, Nicaraguan President went on to say.

"Sergey Lavrov handed over to me a message from the Russian president confirming commitment of both sides to develop the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, especially in what concerns the implementation of projects in the agricultural sector, in transport, infrastructure, civil aviation, machine-building, satellite navigation, pharmaceuticals," Ortega noted.

"We would like to pay respect to President Putin, we would like to thank him and say we are determined to develop relations with Russia in all spheres," the Nicaraguan president stressed. "It is important for reaching peace, in rebuffing drug trafficking, organized crime."